Name:
Artemisia nova Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This broadly defined association is reported from eastern Wyoming and western Colorado to eastern California but may be found elsewhere in the interior western U.S. Stands occur at middle to upper elevations of 1400 to 2730 m (4590-8960 feet) on mountain and hillslopes, ridges, mesatops, alluvial fans and river bluffs. Sites are nearly level to steeply sloping; aspects are variable. Soils are shallow (often <30 cm deep), well-drained, and coarse-textured with high cover of gravel and cobble (desert pavement). Soil texture ranges from gravelly loam to sandy clay loam. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (12-40% cover) dwarf-shrub layer (<0.5 m tall) that is dominated by <i>Artemisia nova</i>. Other woody species present include <i>Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), Atriplex confertifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Ephedra</i> spp., <i>Grayia spinosa, Krascheninnikovia lanata</i>, and <i>Opuntia erinacea</i>. Diagnostic of this community is a sparse herbaceous understory with only scattered grasses and forbs. Common grasses may include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. Forbs such as <i>Erysimum capitatum (= Erysimum asperum), Erigeron aphanactis, Stenotus acaulis</i>, and <i>Phlox</i> spp. may also be present. Scattered trees may be present, such as <i>Juniperus osteosperma, Pinus edulis, Pinus monophylla</i>, or <i>Yucca brevifolia</i>, depending on location. Introduced species are important in some stands and may include <i>Bromus tectorum, Salsola kali</i>, and <i>Halogeton glomeratus</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.34244.CEGL001417
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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